A German Shepherd was barking at a metal manhole cover in the center of the road. When they saw what was below the cover, onlookers were shocked.
People saw a strange sight in a quiet area near a park: a German Shepherd was pacing uneasily at the edge of the pavement. It was not just barking; it was strained and insistent, as if it were trying to call for help.
The dog would sometimes freeze while sniffing at the metal cover, then hop sideways and then return to its starting position. Sometimes it would jump on the cover, scratch it with its claws, and then start to scream. It was so obviously nervous that it no longer seemed to be behaving like a normal street dog.
At first, passersby didn’t care.
“Perhaps it found some food,” some said.
Some conjectured that it might have picked up a mouse from below.
But the dog would not give up. As it returned to the cover, it growled loudly, ran in circles, and looked directly and pleadingly at humans.
One man finally had enough. He leaned in and shone a flashlight inside, leaning over the lid. His face became white at what he noticed. What he discovered inside startled him.
“There’s a puppy down there,” he sighed.
Other people came over. They stared into the manhole as they froze. A tiny puppy was sprawled amidst dirt, puddles, and pieces of trash. It was barely alive, shivering, groaning, and had one paw curled strangely. The scene was horrifying.
“It would have died down there,” someone whispered.
Someone climbed down into the manhole, took the dog out carefully, and put a jacket over it. It was given to the nearest veterinary clinic.
Only then did the German Shepherd stop barking. It seemed happy that everything was at last okay as it sat nearby and wiggled its tail. It showed no signs of anxiousness and made no attempt to pursue the people.
“It’s not his puppy,” they claimed. He just couldn’t get out.
Seemingly satisfied that it had done its job, the dog stayed by the manhole for a little while longer before rising and walking away quietly. Animals are such wonderful creatures.
